Massage apparatus



3 Shee'cs-Sheec 1 Nov. 17, 1959 c. c. GRUND MASSAGE APPARATUS FiledMarch 4, 1955 Filed March 4, 1955 Nov. 17, 1959 c. C,GRUND 2912,976

MASSAGE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNl/ENTOR. CARL C. GRUND Nov. 17,1959 c. c. GRUND 2,912,976

MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 24 /NVEN TOR.GAR]. C. GRUND BYJMJ 4 7' 7' ORNE YS.

nited States My invention relates to anew and improved massage apparatusor device and while it was developed prirnarily for use in massaging thegums, it is equally applicable for use on other parts of the body aswill become apparent.

The therapeutic value o f massage to body tissues under properconditions is too well established tO require any extensive discussionhere although certain aspects should be mentioned for a betterunderstanding cf the novel characteristics of my invention as comparedWith other devices known to the art. In general, massage is a term usedto signify a group of external manipulations for the purpose ofaflecting the nervous and muscular systems and the general circulation.For best results, massage should take the form cf compression andrelease which forces the transudates into the lymph vessels and the redblood cells plugging the capillaries are forced into the venules, thusopening the capillaries to arterial blood. The effect of this is todrain 011 acids and the injurious end products of inflarnmation and tobring in fresh oxygen and cell nutriment.

Certain medical and dental texts would point out that massage is moreeffective when done manually even though there are innumerable devicesfor doing it mechanically and it has been my experience over a period ofmany years that the problem lies nt in a mechanical apparatus per se butin the manner and form of use which seerns to be characteristic of suchdevices. Mechanical massagers for the body and limbs and particularlyfor use in the treatment of periodontal and gingival disturbances are inwhat might be termed the vibrator dass, or in other words are high speedreciprocating devices tha-t shake or pummel the tissue rather thancornpress o1 release it. Consequently, they do not accomplish the bloodcirculation previously described as the purpose of a proper compressionand release massage movement.

It is Well established that body tissue has a certain normal resiliencyby virtue of which it rebounds frorn cornpression of a proper massagemovernent. As a result when such tissue is subjected to a rapidsuccession cf contacts from a high speed vibrating surface, it may becompressed at the first contact where it remains since successivecontacts come at too rapid a rate to permit of any rebounding with theresult that the tissue in eifect remains static and the intended effectof the purported massage is lost almost entirely. From the aboveobservations it would thcn appear that the actual nature of the massagemovement whether mechanical or manual is itself of minor importanceproviding it is rhythmicaland bears a-relationship t0 the reboundingability of the tissues and perhaps also to the blood circulation asaiiected by the pulse rate. Such factors seem to have been completelyoverlooked by-present mechanicalmas sage devices.

It is therefore one of the important objects of this invention toprovide anew and improved mechanically operated massaging apparatuscharacten'zed by a rhythmical action for compressing and releasing orkneading of the atent ly, can be adjusted: for gnrns of differentwidths,and;

can be regulated to increase or decrease the;forceand-- depth of thecompressionzstroke.

Another object 011 myinyention is to pro vide an im, proved gum massagerfor mor;eeflective interproximal, stimulation in cases cf perioclontaland gingi val dis-- tnrbances..

These, and other objects. will be apparen-t to.= thosc; skilled inthe;art

My invention cqnsis ts= in the, construction,- arrangements, andcornbination;of thevarious parts ofthede vice, whereby the objects;contemplated are attained= as. hereinafter. more:fully set forth,specifically pointed;out in my claims, and;illustrated-intheaccompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspec tive -view of my; new massaging ap paratusillustrating a preferred embodiment thereof for use on gums,

Fig. 2 is a side elevationaliview=ofthe device:in.Fig: 1 with portionsof:tl:1e;casingor housingbrok&n awayto more fully illustrate: itsconstructibm Fig, 3' is anenlargcdfr.ont view-of the massagihg tipson this device in extreme open position in solid lines= and shown. in close.dposition. 1111b1'0k11 lines,

Fig, 4 is; a;crosssectional:viewtaken onthe line 4 4* of. Fig; 5;

Fig.; 5 is an:enlarged rear view of this devicewith the cover,brokernaway. tomore: clearly. illustrate the constructi0n thereof;

showing themin .open=. andsclosed 1positi0nrespectively Figs; 8 ;and;91arewlargcdxfrontandside views respec- -tively ofi oneof; the;massaging=tips and; shown partially in section toillustrate;itsattachment to -the massaging arm,

Fig; 10 15,13I1; enlarged-I fragmentary view showing calibrations fradjstment-of=the=massage=arm and is taken fr'om the line 10=10in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is=anenlargediopview of the lower portion of the housing in Fig.2 ta-ken onthe line 11-11 cf that- Fig. 2, and

Fig. 12 iswperspective: view of my new massager= similar to Fig. 1 butshown adapted and mountedfor use onthe limbs= of the: body.

the-fonward eud8. An elongated tubular support membep- 30415 mountedthrough the iorward' end 28- so;that a portiomthereof lieswith iusection*l8 andis detachabl'y secured therein by ascrew=32 inserted fromthe bottomfk 3400f section 18= intoihe=-undflside of membe; 30. Tl1efrearward end6t of supportmember0 (Fig; 2) isths spaced-Torwardly:oftherear end526 at:a point approxi# mately two: thirds the distancefromtend28. Thus ar rznged, member 30 projects forwardly fr0m and beyondsection 18 parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof as shown moreparticularly in Figs. 1 and 2. In the forward end cf tubular member 30there is inserted a pluglike bearing member 38 (Fig. 3) and a likebearing memher 40 is similarly placed in the r'ear (Figs. 2 and 6) Apair cf elongated like rods or shafts 42 and 44 (Fig. 11)

designed for rotation about their longitudinal axes as will later appearare mounted in member 30 in horizontal spaced parallel relaiionship andproject from both the forward and rear ends thereof. For this purpose itwill be understood that suitable aligned openings are drilled in therespective plugs 38 and 40 and the respective shafts 42 and 44 arerotatable therein and of course are supported thereby. Openings 46 and48 (Fig. 11) may be provided in the top portion of member 30 withinsection 18 if desired to facilitate lubrication of shafts 42 and 44 attirnes.

The protrucling ends cf shafts 42 and 44 from rear plug 40 are bent toform the contact arms 50 and 52 and spring means 54 and 56 (Fig. 11)connected respectively between arms 50 and 52 to the correspondingsicles of member 30 within section 18 are placed to normally hold arms50 and 52 in an upturned position where they are in a relative Positionas shown in Fig. 6. On the ends of shafts 42 and 44 which project frornthe forward plug 38 in rnember 30 there is integrally or separatelyformed the respective collar like support members 58 and 60 which areformed so that their relative position to each other corresponds to thatcf arms 50 and 52 as shown in Fig. 7 and also as can be determined fromFig. 2. Tims, it will be understood as arms 42 and 44 are rotated ontheir longitudinal axes, collars 58 and 60 will rnove away from andtowards each other correspiandingly to arms 50 and 52.

Collars 58 and 60 are each drilled in parallel alignment with thelongitudinal axis of member 30 to slidably, rotatably receive therespective elongated resilient arm extension mernbem62 and 64 which maybe secured therein by the'respective Set screws 66 and 68. The forwardend portions of arm extensions 62 and 64 are each bent downwardly atapproximately right angles indicated by the numerals 70 and 72 and theextreme outer ends thereof are then bent towards each other in a V-shapeto form the supports 74 and 76 for the massaging tips 78. These tipsarepreferably made from soft plastic or surgical rubber but may of coursebe formed from any other suitable material and as shown I preferablyshape thern with a projecting tip or peak 80 that increases the efiectiveness of interproximal stimulation in gingival massage. Tips 78 arefrictionally placed on supports 74 and 76 and may be easily removecl forcleaning and sterilizing. On the top side of each collar 58 and'60 Ihave placed a guide mark 82 and on each arm extension 62 and 64 thereare a plurality of like calibrations or guide marks 84. This serves toalign and adjust the relative positions of tips 78 and by having themarks 84 it is possible to adjust both extension arms alike by aligningthe respective marks 84 with ma'rk 82.

For rotating shafts 42 and 44 on their longitudinal axes so that tips 78move toward and away from each other as will later be described indetail I use a small direct drive electric motor indicated generally bythe numeral 86 in Fig. 5. This motor is of a type coinmerciallyavailable, except for certain adaptations I shall describe, andtherefore the details of its construction, having no patentablesignificance as concerns (bis invention, are not described in detail.Particularly, I Wish to point out that motor 86 is of the type having arotating drive shaft 88 and is not a vibrating mechanism which is foundin practically all other devices of this dass. For purpose of thisdescription the end of motor 86 frorn which shaft 88 projects isreferred to as the rear face 90 (Fig. 5). T this face I have secured aplate 92 (Figs. and by means of screws or bolts and nuts 94 and th1splate is provided with a suitable opening for the projection of shaft 88toward the rear. 011 plate 92 and at one side of shaft 88 is the bracketor support 96 to which the gear 98 is concent rically rotatably securedby any means such as nut 100 attached to shaft 99 which is flush withthe left side of gear 98 as viewed in Fig. 5. Shaft 88 has beenexternally threaded and gear 98 has been associated therewith to fonn awenn gear for operation in a well known manner. At the other side ofshaft 88, a bar 102 is disposed in a track means 104 integrally formedin plate 92 for a vertical sliding movement which is accomplished by arigid link 106 pivotally connected at one end 108 to bar 102 andsimilarly eccentrically connected to gear 98 at the other end 110. Bythis arrangement it will be understood that rotation of gear 98 willcause bar 102 to travel alternately upwardly and downwardly in tracl 104for a predetermined distance and at a fixed rate of speed which may bevaried depencling upon the diameter of gear 98 and/er the point 015attachment thereto of link 106 relative to the axis of the gear. Acrossthe bottom of bar 102 there is integrally forrned or otherwise secured across member 112 which extends transversely of the longitudinal axis cfmember 30 and remains in this relative osition throughout its verticalmovement.

Motor 86 is pivotally mounted at its lower forward end to the upperforward portion of lower casing section 18 by rneans of the pin 114(Figs. l and 2) and for this purpose I have mounted a bottorn plate 116to motor 86 for receiving pin 114. Thus mounted, cross member 112 willbe positioned transversely of the arms 50 and 52 (Fig. 6) and will pushagainst them in its downward rnovernent so as to move them away fromeach other (Fig. 7) causing shafts 42 and 44 to rotate on theirlongitudinal eures. Springs 54 and 56 will of course return arms 50 and52 to their position shown in Fig. 6 011 the npward rnovernent of crossmember 112.

As pointed out above motor 86 is m ounted in lower section 18 to pivoton pin 114 and this has been designed to afford certain adjustments inthe movement of tips 78 as fol lows, Bar 102 having a stroke of apredetermined distance, it will be understood that the farther abovearms 50 and 52 cross rnember 112 is located relative to the position inFig. 6, the less bar 102 will descend into section 18 to provide acorrespondingly shorter pati1 oft travel of arms 50 and 52. Conversely,the closer bar 102 is to arms 50 and 52, the deeper into sect-ion 18will be its descent and the greater the rotation of shafts 42 and 44.This of course directly aliects the closeness which tips 78 approacheach other. T0 accomplish this adjustment a screw rnember 118 dependsfrorn the top of the upper casing 16 and is rotatecl by a control knob120. With section 16 in place over rn0t=or 86 and attached to lowersection 18, screw 118 registers With an internally threaded opening 122in the top of motor 86. Thus by turning screw 118 to take up the threadsin opening 122 the rear of motor 86 will be elevated as it pivots on pin114 and obviously raises the lowermcst point to which bar 102 candescend. By reversing the movernent of knob the rear of motor 86 islowered allowing bar 102 to penetrate deeper into the lower section 18.The upper housing section 16 has an opening 124 for access t0 thecontact 126 to which the electric cord 128 is attached in a Weil knownmanner.

The speed at which bar 102 reciprocates o1 in other words the relativenumber of complete strokes per minute that it makes is one of theimportant characteristics that distinguishes this invention from othersin the same dass and is a factor which in cooperation with the manner ofoperation of tips 78 produces an entirely difierent effect and resultfrom present type massaging devices. Such present type devices appear todepend upon high speed mechanical vibrating rneans to rock or shake orvibrate a massage arm 01' arms that in turn tap, hit or pumrnel thetissue in a manner which has mistakenly been referred tp as a massa gemovement or treatment. Compared to other devices are known to tap orpummel.thetissue at rates in the thousands per minute whichas.pointedout earlier does not. permit thetissue to rebound due;.to its normalresiliency and consequently createsa.v static condition as afiectscirculatidn. Such rapid pounding of-(the tissue does not thereforeacc'ornplish. the purpose and function of proper massa'ge in the form ofrhythmic al compression and release which ean be found:defined in allliterature 011 the subjeet.

With reference now to the use. and operation ofthis device it will benoted.whein arms 50. and 52 areinupright position (Fig. 6) thetips78.are oppositely disposed and at their widest point of separation. ThisSpacing; can be manually adjusted.by loosening set screws66. andi 68(Fig. 3), rotating shaft extensions 62a'nd 64=to move the tips 78 closertogether and retightening the screws. In doing this; guide lines 82 and84 make it possiblev to. adjust each tip an equal amount andthusthe.spacing can:v be adapted for any Width. gums. When fnotor 86 isstarted and bar 102 reciprocates in a vertical: plane, cross member 112will push arms 50 and 52as described to move tips 78 toward each other.In thisopertion, the upward position of arrns 50 and 52 is such thatthey are normally inclined slightly away from the vertical and away fromeach other to assure their rotation: as described. To further facilitatethis action, the upperinner:

surface of each arm 50 and 52 may be beveled 'asat 130:- for a slidingcontact with cross member 112 in an obvious manner. On the upward strokeof bar 102, springs S4and: 56 will, of course, move the tips 78 awayfrom each other. It will be appreciated thatthe movernents of tips 78are rhythmical and positive and as seen in Fig. 3 the movement of eachtip defines a curved pathfirst dowm wardly, them toward the opposite tipor toward the tissue being acted upon and then slightly upwardly. lt isa smooth firm movement that gently compresses er kneads the tissue so asto be a.distinct contrast from the staccato tapping of a vibratingmeehanism and to simulate more naturally the massage movement ofmanualmanipulation. Tips 78 can be placed tostraddlethe gums so thatboth sides are compressed and: released simultaneously and can be movedback and forth. and upand= down as may be required with the points 80Working in the interproximal spaces.

Much experimenting has been done relative to the rate of speed at whichthe tips 7 8move towardand away from eacl1 other and while I do notpropose to limit this invention to any specific rate, I do wish to pointout certain factors which are deemed to be of irnpo rtance. I have foundthat compression of the gums by tips 78 at rates up to 300 times perminute produce much more benefieial results as compared with high speedvibrating devices that operate in the thousands per minute. Where thedividing line onspeed is which separates acompression and release aetionfrom a constant tapping by Vibration cannot be stated with any degree ofcertainty and therefore what Iclaimas the basie innovtion inthisinvention is a device which departsfromthe vibratingprinciple-andutilizes the compression and release apprdachfor cooperation with thenormal ability of the tissue-to rebound fr om a gentle compression. Inthis respect, it has=b en established that the average pulse rate isaround' 70 per mim 1te with variations of cou rse b.oth slower andfaster under 0ertain circumstances and therefore by adapting the speedof movement of tips7. in some definite relations hiptot the pulse rate,the benefits of the massage are found to be highly beneficial. Thus,moving thetips fora compression action at a rateequal to halfiasmuch 011two or three times the pulse rate has proven very satisfactory. A slowerrate will of course retain the compres sion and release principle, andhigher rates; that do not getinto a:

vibrating action wi1hstillbe cf consideranly gr eaterv ene fit as:compared with high speedvibrators;

The. raising-- and lowering of the rear end of'motor 86 by screw 118(Fig. 2) previously deserihed, affords;

another importantadjustment that is novel in devices of this dass. Bylowering the motor 86, orossmern-v ber 112 will descend deeper intocasing section 18 and; causea greater rotation of shafts 42 and 44lbymoving arms 50 and 52as shown in Fig. 7. This of course moves tips 78closer together than would a lesser rotation of;

shafts 42 and 44 and provides a positive,yfirmand more sustainedeompressing action. Because arms 50 and 52 cannot respond to springs 54and 56 until eross member 112 nioves upwardly, the actionby tip78 isdefinitely one of -gentle but firm compression as distinguished from atap or purnmeling. This pressure is.of-course increased: er decreased byinitially adjusting the, spacing of tips; 78 as described.

Anotherinnovation in this inventio-n resides in the use of the resilientshaft extensions 62- and 64 which add yieldability in the aetion of tips78. Thus, as, the tips78press againstthegums 132 (Fig. 1) a slightbeurling in the extensions 62 and 64 may occur in rsponseto resistanceby the gums to the pressure of tips78. Thus there is a yieldingness tothe compression action that makes the massage more gentle than if themassage tips. were mounted to rigid members. Such yielding abilityofmembers 62 and 64- cam o=f course be increased or deereased as mayseemappropriate by adjusting them longitudinally in. collars 58 and 60.

With reference now to Fig. 12 I have shown my massaging device mountedon a vertically adjustable support 134 for use 011 parts. of the bodyother :tl1an the gums and illustrated as being used 011 a leg 136. Thestructure cf this device is the same as previously described so thatlike parts are given like numerals. However, in the case of the massagetips it may bepreferable to use fiat pad members 138 and the shaftextensions 62*and 64 may terminate in the bifurcated arms 1.40and142which attach to opposite ends of the pads 138 as shown and thereby serveto malte the pads confo'rm to.the contour of the Portion being massaged.Itis also pointed out thatwhile two massaging pads are shown, it ispossible to remove and pad and extension arm and use the remain.ing one;when massaging such places as the small of the back; and the like.

lt is subrnittedthat the invention shown; and. described is aptly suitedto achieve the purposes intended and. is. characterizedby a combinationof-highl3useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine theirrespective and proportionate functions in accomplishing the ob.jeets.sought to be obtained.

Some changes may be made in the co-nstruetion and arrangement of mymassage apparatus-without departing said motor pivotallysecured at one end to one end of sa1d. hous1ng so said cross member is spaced above andin line withsaid arm and capable of contacting the Same in the, downwardstroke of its travel, said motor when actuated causing'said cross.memberto bear against said am to partially rotate said shaft in one directionabout its, longitudinal axis m'eans to partially rotate said= shaft inthe otheiw directionwhen saidbross member moves upwardly away, from saidarm, and means gearing said shaft =to said motor sothat thereeiprocationof said=cross member is fixed to 'contact said arm at arate synchronized With the ability cf the tissue being massaged torebound due to its normal resiliency after being cornpressed by themassage rnember.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized by a manually rotatablescrew means in said housing threadably connected to said electric motorwhereby said electric motor can be selectively raised and lowered on itspivot point to different fixed positions within said housing and therebyvary the distance between said cross momber and said arm to selectivelychange the duration of contact between the cross member and said armduring a given stroke of said cross mernber which correspondingly variesthe degree of rotation of said straft.

3. A d8vice as defined in claim 1 characterized by a resilient straftextension rotatably attached to the eurer and of said shaft with said-massage memlmer on the outer end of said shaft extension, and means tofix said shaft at different positions of rotation relative to saidshaft.

4. A massaging apparatus, comprising, a housing designed to serve as ahandle means, a pair of parallel shafts disposed in said housing so asto project therefrorn, a resilient shaft extension rotatably attaclredto the outer and of each shaft, massaging tips in spaced relationship toeach other on the outer end of each shaft extension, means to fix saidshaft extensions at different positions cf rotation relative to saidshaft whereby the spaced relationship of said tips can be adjustablyfixed, an arm on the inuer end of each shaft, a vertically reciprocatingcross member in said housing positioned to contact said arms 011 itsdownward stroke, means in said housing fo-r actuating said crossrnember, said cross mernber causing said shafts to partially rotate inone direction about their longitudinal axes so as to move said tipstoward each other, means to rotate said shafts in the oppositedirection, and said cross rnember constructed and arranged to operate ata rate whereby said tips produce a rhythmical coxnpressiaon and releaseor kneading movernent of the body tissue to which it is applied and thusenables tl1e tissue to rebound due to its normal resiliency after beingcompressed by said tips, and means within said housing to vary thedistance between said cross member and said arms so as to selectivelychange the duration of sontact between said cross mernber and said armsduring a given stroke of said cross member which correspondingly variesthe degree of rotation of said shafts.

5. A massaging device including a pair of shafts partially rotatable intwo opposite directions respectively about their longitudinal axes,massage tips carried by said shafts and movable toward and away fromeacb other by alternate directions of rotation of said shafts, an arm011 one and of each shaft, a vertically reciprocating cross mernberpositioned to contact said arms 011 its downward stroke, means foractuating said cross member, said cross mernber causing said shafts topartially rotate in one dir'ection about their longitudinal axes, meansto rotate said shafts in the opposite direction, and means to vary thedistance between said cross member and said arms so as to selectivelychange the duration of contact between said cross member and said arrnsduring a given stroke of said cross mernber which correspondingly variesthe degree of rotation of said shafts.

6. A massaging apparatus, comprising a support, a pair of spacedparallel shafts mounted in said support for rotation about theirlongitudinal axes, a massage head 011 one and of each respective straft,said massage heads oppositely disposed and in spaced relationship instarting position, an angularly disposed arm on the other and of eachrespective shaft, said arrns in parallel spaced relationship definingtheir starting position, means movabla into engagement with said arms ina rhythmic sequence to move them away from each other causing partialrotation of said shafts in one direction and a corresponding movement ofsaid massage heads toward each other, means en gageable with said armsto return them to starting posi tion, and means to selectively vary theduration of rhythmic contact between said arms and said arm engagingmeans. v

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said last two mentioned meansare constructed and arranged to produce a gentle rhythmic 'movement ofsaid massage heads toward and away frorn each other at a rate bearingsome direct relationship to the average pulse rate in the human body.

8. A massage =apparatus cornprising a support, a pair of spaced parallelshafts mounted in said support for rotation about their longitudinalaxes, a massage head on one end of each respective straft, said massageheads oppositely disposed and in spacecl relationship in startingosition, an angularly disposed arm 011 the other encl of each rqspectiveshaft, said arms in parallel spaced relationship defining their startingposition, a reciprocating bar mernber operatively associated with saidsupport, means for reciprocating the saure, said bar engageable Withsaid arms for moving the sarne apart to cause partial rotation of saidshafts and a corresponding movement of said massage heads towards eachother, means engageable with said arms to return them to startingposition, and means selectively varying the length of the stroke of saidbar in reciprocating rnovement to selectively vary the duration ofcontact of said bar mernber with said arms and to correspondingly varythe degree of rotation of said shaft.

9. A massaging apparatus, comprising a support, a pair of spacedparallel shafts mounted in said support for rotation about theirlongitudinal axes, a massage head on one end of each respective shaft,said massage heads oppositely disposed and in spaced relationship instarting position, a motor driven reciprocating bar member, said barmember engageable with said arms for rnoving the same apart to causepartial rotation of said shafts and a corresponding movernent of saidmassage heads towards each other, means engageable With said arms toreturn them to starting position, means selectively varying the lengthof .the stroke cf said bar in reciprocating movement to selectively varythe duration of contact of said bar with said arms and tocorrespondingly vary the degree of rotation of said shaft, and gearingon said motor to control the reciprocation of said bar at a rate bywhich the corresponding movement of said massage heads toward and awayfrom each other can produce a gentle but firm rhythmic cornpression andrelease effect on tissue being massagecl as distinguished frorn a rapidtapping and pumrneling effect of a high speed vibrating device.

10. A massaging device including a pair cf shafts partially rotatable intwo opposite directions respectively about their longitudinal axes,massage tips carried by said shafts and movable toward and away fromeach other by alternate directions of rotation of said shafts, a reciprocating member operatively engageable with said shafts only during onedirection of reciprocation and coustructed so as to apply a relativelysteady and firm force thereto to partially rotate them in one direction,rncans to rotate said shafts in the opposite direction, and means toselectively vary the duration of operable engagement between saidreciprocating rnember and said shafts.

11. A massaging device including a pair of shafts partially rotatable intwo opposite directions respectively about their longitudinal axes,massage tips carried by said shafts and movable toward and away fromeach other by alternate directions of rotation of said shafts, a forceapplying member operatively engageable with said shafts so as to apply arelatively steady and firm force thereto to partially rotate them in onedirection, meansv to rotate said shafts in the opposite direction, andmeans to selectively vary the duration of application of force betweensaid force applying rnember and said shafts.

12. A massage device, comprising, a housing having a lower and uppersection, a shaft partially disposed in said lovver section and partiallyprotruding therefrom, an arm on the immer end of said shaft, a massagemember on die outer en-d thereof, an electric motor, a verticallyreciprocating cross member operatively connected to said motor, saidelectric motor pivotally secured at one end to one end of said lowersection so said cross member is spaced above and in line with said armand capable of contacting the same in the downward stroke of its travel,said upper section attachable to said lower section to enclose saidelentric motor, said motor when actuated causing said cross member tobear against said arm to partially rotate said shaft in one directionabout its longitudinal axis, means to partially rotate said shaft in theother direction when said cross member moves upwardly away from saidarm, and a manually rotatable screw means in said upper sectionthreadably connected With the top sicle cf said elentric motor wherebysaid electric motor can be selectively raised and lowered an its pivotpoint to different fixecl positions within the lower section and therebyvary the distance beween said cross member and said arm to se1ectivelychange the duration of contact between the cross member and said armduring a given stroke of said cross member which correspondingly variesthe degree of roter tion of said shaft.

13. A massage device, comprising, a housing having a lower and uppersection, a shaft partially disposed in said lower section and partiallyprotruding therefrom, an arm on the inner end of said shaft, a massagemember 011 the outer end thereof, an eloctric motor, a verticallyreciprocating cross rnember operatively connected to said motor, siadelectric motor pivotally secured at one end to one end of said lowersection so said cross member is spaced above and in line with said armand capablo of contacting the sarne in the downward stroke of itstravel, said upper section attaohable to said lower section to enclosesaid electric motor, said motor When actuated causing said cross memberto bear against said arm to partially rotate said shaft in one directionabout its longitudinal axis, means to selectivoly vary the duration ofthe downward stroke of said cross member to correspondingly vary theduration of bearing engagement of said cross member with said arm, andmeans to partically rotate said sha;ft in the other direction when saidcross member mov =s upwardly away from said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LondonAug. 31, 1937 Salit Dec. 31, 1940 Strome Apr. 10, 1945

